X-Men

[Melf]

There must be what, about 400 X-Men right now? Good thing you only have to worry about four in Sega's mega hit game based on those oft-troubled mutants. Back when any licensed game was almost guaranteed to stink, X-Men was a pleasant surprise. Read our full review (http://www.sega-16.com/2006/05/x-men/) or else, bub.

[j_factor]

wtf? Some people actually like this game?

[Joe Redifer]

I rented this back in the day, and all I really remember is that it was so choppy as to be unplayable (for me) and the extremely liberal use of dithered graphics. It was like I was looking at the game through a screen door. Many non-Japanese developers LOVED to do this as much as possible since they lacked quality artistic talent. Use solid colors, people! Just because the Genesis doesn't have more than 512 colors doesn't mean you are forced to create graphics with that awful dithered look! This game looked like crap. Now all I have to do is get those comments back in time to when it mattered.

[janus]

Damn, I was about to review this... and give it a 3.

[David J.]

I hated this one, but I loved the second one, go figure.

[Obviously]

The second one was a major improvement. This game on the other hand is terrible for all the reasons Joe mentioned. I remember renting it once and feeling ripped off but luckily my rental place had a "3 games for 3 days for 3 dollars" thing so it wasn't a total loss.

[16bitter]

Liked it. But that might only be due to the fact that I had a hard-on for all things X-Men at the time (early 93).

Though I've played plenty of crap -- especially in the licensed game category -- and it's nothing less (admittedly, maybe nothing more) than decently playable. It's not an atrocious game, whether you think the graphics are lacking or not.

As far as other X-Men games on 16-bit, I bought X-Men 2 when it first came out. Never have played it much at all. I hate the opening level for one thing.

Capcom's X-Men on SNES was too structured and tedious. I usually hate it when games force me to play specific characters depending on level. Like most eleven year olds, I just wanted to play as Wolverine. Why force me to play as Psylocke or that cameltoe Cyclops? Bah!

I got my wish in the Wolverine games, but they were made by Acclaim. Even when you win you lose.

[Flash1087]

I too had my X-Men days, and I played basically any game with them in it.

I actually LIKED this one, however. The rest I just played becase I felt I had to.

[Genesis Knight]

This game disgusted me and it was in my possession for less that 48 hours. I would have given it a 2, for the simple reason that it was an abysmal platformer even among the hundred pathetic platformers for the system.

[VinnyT]

Um, I liked it, even though the final boss fight was all screwy.

You forgot to mention that you can only switch characters twice per level, you make it sound like you can just keep switching the whole time.

[Chris Marsh]

It is a decent Genesis game, but an X-Men could be worse. It could be the NES version of X-Men, which in my opinion is the worst video game of all time.

[Alianger]

As much as I wanted to like this game the terribly bland graphics and choppy scrolling was too much to ignore. I also remember the controls being a bit dodgy, and some enemies were hard to avoid without memorization. Below average. The sequel is nice, though.

[16bitter]

I just played the sequel. The controls are just as bad in that.

Maybe worse, considering the game seems to be designed more around the assumption of a quick, reactive control system that is MIA.

[16bitter]

It is a decent Genesis game, but an X-Men could be worse. It could be the NES version of X-Men, which in my opinion is the worst video game of all time.

That game reminds me of stomach cancer.

And Star Tropics.

[Drixxel]

That game reminds me of stomach cancer.

And Star Tropics.

Star Tropics' aborted fetus of a second cousin at best.

[16bitter]

Star Tropics' aborted fetus of a second cousin at best.

A fetus? You don't need to go throwing around synonyms for stomach cancer.

It's also too bad that you're half-wrong, at least: nobody aborted that abomination. It saw its own form of "birth". I was there for it -- worse than a delivery room tape.

Somebody should have had the sense to abort both Star Tropics and NES X-Men, yes, but alas we are left with reality.

Reality for me was wasting money on those two shit games in one summer. :furious:

[Drixxel]

A fetus? You don't need to go throwing around synonyms for stomach cancer.

It's also too bad that you're half-wrong, at least: nobody aborted that abomination. It saw its own form of "birth". I was there for it -- worse than a delivery room tape.

Somebody should have had the sense to abort both Star Tropics and NES X-Men, yes, but alas we are left with reality.

Reality for me was wasting money on those two shit games in one summer. :furious:

NES X-Men is an absolutely catastrophic game, but Star Tropics? X-Men is it's own unique gaming hell, no question, but Star Tropics is an alright game. Not comparable!

[j_factor]

Star Tropics is classic.

[16bitter]

So's the plague.

[DrunkHeadbanger]

X-men is playable, but Clone wars is alot better in my opinion. I really enjoyed X-men mutant apcalypse and Marvel heroes war of the gems on the SNES too.

[Mendicant]

Like most eleven year olds, I just wanted to play as Wolverine. Why force me to play as Psylocke or that cameltoe Cyclops? Bah!

I got my wish in the Wolverine games, but they were made by Acclaim. Even when you win you lose.

I got my wish in X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Superheroes, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, etc. :D

[Obviously]

Yes, the Capcom fighters are superior. The other X-Men arcade game whose developer I can't remember was awesome as well.

[j_factor]

The beat 'em up? That was by Konami. It rocked.

[ary incorparated]

X-men is playable, but Clone wars is alot better in my opinion. I really enjoyed X-men mutant apcalypse and Marvel heroes war of the gems on the SNES too.

Hmm war of the gems i aint complaining much about the snes but hell that game was ways too short and hell that game was ways too slow underwater level with iron man hmm slow character and the excuse of beeing a slow console.mutant apocalipse was gooed but clone wars was better.

[Quiet Flight]

I acutally prefer the first X-Men over Clone Wars. I love both but Clone Wars difficulty was a bit too much when I was that age. I remember first getting clones wars. I put it in, started it up, and instead of a sega logo , I got a missle to the face.

[David J.]

The first X-men I thought was just awful, but the sequel was a lot better. Even with the missle in the face you get when you start up, it was much more refined and playable.

[ary incorparated]

thats what i tought in the begining and i later almost finished it trought emulation,i know you want a options screen so you can hear whats music is in the game,how about wolverine adamantium rage ill bett everybody here loves that game LOL,i only love the music but ehy im a exception.

[Kollision]

Do you guys know of any other game that has a similar riddle as X-Men?
(if you've beaten the game you'll know what I mean)

[vintagegamecrazy]

thats what i tought in the begining and i later almost finished it trought emulation,i know you want a options screen so you can hear whats music is in the game,how about wolverine adamantium rage ill bett everybody here loves that game LOL,i only love the music but ehy im a exception.

Did you really have to bring that game into this conversation ary? That game's in its own league of bad.

[Aarzak]

"Wolverine: Adamantium Rage"= underrated. If you take time to learn the controls, Wolvie's moves and work with the flaws, it really becomes a genuinely good game. I'm probably the only person here on Sega-16 who's played it past the 1st level AND beat the game.

[Nicpezer]

I beat that game but I cheated using save states. Clone Wars is so much better.

[Kollision]

I beat that game but I cheated using save states.You cheated your way through the end, that's what you mean, I suppose.

[Aarzak]

Now that I remember.........I used save states too.

[TheEdge]

The link doesnt work.

Is this X-Men 1 on the Genesis? If so its a crime to give this game a low score. Its so challenging and innovative for an X-Men title. X-Men 2: Clone wars was better of course but X-men 1 still holds up as a very solid title. It took me almost a decade to figure out that you had to press reset at the end of Mojo's level. Who would have thunk it!

[superlarz]

This game was one of my favorites when I was younger. I used to beat it over and over. It took a very long time for this game to get boring for me. I used to love the X-men and this game was the first good use of the license. I could never get into the sequel.. I do plan on trying in the near future

[oldmanwinters]

This game seems to get a lot of hate from some people these days, but I have to confess I just absolutely love this game. The music just draws me into the atmosphere (particularly the title anthem and second level's second theme) and it's one of those games that you have to die multiple times before you start to learn from your mistakes.

I used to only be able to play this game at my cousins' house in Michigan when I would visit for a week every summer, but I picked it up last year for $5 and I finally beat it last night. Beating Magneto was pretty satisfying, I have to say. It's one of those boss battles, that you try everything and never seem to land a hit, but once you figure out the pattern, you can exploit it to your advantage.

If there is one major gameplay fault, I would say that it's that the characters are so unbalanced. Nightcrawler is just an amazing character to control and his teleportation ability practically makes the whole game into a speed run. Seriously, the game really ought to be called, "Nightcrawler and His Amazing Friends!" Then there is Gambit, who is about as worthless as Raphael and Michaelangelo in TMNT1 for NES.:mad:

Wolverine and Cyclops tend to fall somewhere in between, with each character having their own strengths and weaknesses but can be used effectively when Nightcrawler is low on health. The graphics may not be high-res, but the sprites look good and there are far, FAR worse looking and playing games on the system.

I don't care what anybody says, this is a Genesis classic in my book.:ok: The reviewer gets it pretty right at 8 of 10.

EDIT: And, dang, that reset trick was ingenious (though cruel)! That level select code is pretty kinky too.

[JackieBogard]

I'm confused how people think x-men 2 : clone wars is a hard game?? i find part 1 much more difficult.

[oldmanwinters]

I'm confused how people think x-men 2 : clone wars is a hard game?? i find part 1 much more difficult.

I've only played X2: Clone Wars a few times, but I felt like the first level felt a bit too long and monotonous. I think I only made it to the second level before I ran out of lives. Maybe the length and repetitiveness have something to do with that perception?

Also, Nightcrawler does make the original game substantially easier... until he dies, that is. He's not quite the world-beater who can tear through levels in the sequel.

[JackieBogard]

I've only played X2: Clone Wars a few times, but I felt like the first level felt a bit too long and monotonous. I think I only made it to the second level before I ran out of lives. Maybe the length and repetitiveness have something to do with that perception?

Also, Nightcrawler does make the original game substantially easier... until he dies, that is. He's not quite the world-beater who can tear through levels in the sequel.

i use 2-3 chars max.. i use gambit the most. never use nightcrawler,psylock or magneto.

[Sega Genesis]

I loved this game and didn't like clone wars for many reasons. I do find it hard as hell though. I can get to magneto with no cheats but still cannot defeat him.

[ed_genesisowns16]

Loved this game when I was younger. As a kid, I always had the tendency to turn the hit the power button on the console rather that resetting if I encounter problems with the game. So for about a couple of weeks, I would scream at the Genesis to stop glitching on me on the infamous Mojo stage where you had to reset the game. Imagine my surprise when I finally decided to reset it and saw the green computer codes scrolling down the screen:daze:. Sorry I ever doubted you Genesis.

[Zork]

this was the second Genesis game I ever played on the real hardware. What a let down it was

[oldmanwinters]

I can get to magneto with no cheats but still cannot defeat him.

Nightcrawler is really the only character I've had success beating him with. His stand-in-place teleport is a great defensive and offensive advantage. Fortunately, there are a few walkthroughs on Youtube that will give you a good pattern for beating the game.

[beigemore]

I bought this game back when it as new. I remember not liking it at all, at first, but you know how back then when you got a game, you were stuck with it and had to play it since you probably didn't own many others. I eventually learned to like the game and became pretty good at it, but I cringe when I turn it on now. There is a lot of level memorization needed.

[joshvox]

Really frustrating game. Just got clone wars, it's more enjoyable, but not that much easier. Although I think it may be possible that I just suck :)

[MindController]

Playing the game in the early 90s, I thought the graphics were great. My biggest gripe is that you couldn't actually play as Iceman. Quite disappointing.

[bigladiesman]

I liked this game, which introduced me to the world of Chris Claremont's muties, but it was hard as nails and has a somewhat ominous atmosphere. That jungle was downright creepy!

[cabear]

i love this game. it's hard, stupid and kind of childish but i dig it.

part 2 kinda sucked for me, but oh well.

[bohokii]

and them using the reset for a button made it impossible to beat on a nomad

[DarkDragon]

I'm at about a 6/10 with this one. Its not bad but could have used a bit more polish. Some of the levels seemed a bit too short and some of the boss fights were kinda lame. Juggernaut should have been awesome but instead he was a dinky, smallish guy who just charged at you.

[EricShaun]

I remember my mum and dad ordering this for me from a catalogue. Was looking forward to it.

They sent Captain America and the Avengers instead :/